CA2181564C - Skate guard - Google Patents
Skate guard Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2181564C CA2181564C CA002181564A CA2181564A CA2181564C CA 2181564 C CA2181564 C CA 2181564C CA 002181564 A CA002181564 A CA 002181564A CA 2181564 A CA2181564 A CA 2181564A CA 2181564 C CA2181564 C CA 2181564C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- skate
- blade
- guard
- guide bar
- support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000001012 protector Effects 0.000 abstract description 14
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C3/00—Accessories for skates
- A63C3/12—Guards for skate blades
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- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A skate guard is disclosed which comprises a blade protector or guide bar (11) and a support block (12) slidable along the guide bar (11). The support block (12) slides in a longitudinal channel provided in the guide bar (11). The guide bar (11) is provided, at the toe end thereof, with a downwardly and rearwards facing clamping surface (28) adapted to engage the upwardly and forwards facing edge (29) of a blade, while the block (12) includes a downwardly and forwards facing clamping surface (36) which wedgingly urges the heel portion of the blade in the direction toward the guide bar. The force of a spring (38) urging the block (12) towards the toe portion of the guide bar maintains a firm engagement between generally flat and upwardly facing support portions (18) and (21) with the underside (19, 22) of the toe and heel plates, 20, 23, of the skate respectively. The guide bar (11) and the block (12) are so dimensioned that with the undersides (19, 22) resting firmly on the support portions (18, 21), the runner edge (15) of the blade of the skate is devoid of any contact with the guide bar whereby even a slightest dulling of the runner edge (15) is prevented. At the same time, the skate guard can be conveniently and quickly attached to or detached from a blade.
Description
SKATE GUARD
This invention relates to the improvement of skate guards of the type readily and conveniently attachable to or removable from the skate blade.
More particularly, the invention relates to the type of skate guards where the edge of the runner of the blade is spaced above any portions of the guard so that the edge of the runner remains devoid of any contact with the guard to prevent even a slight dulling of the runner edge while walking around with the guard applied.
While no rigidly prescribed terminology exists in the art of skates, certain terms have been accepted by the industry and users and is also used throughout the present specification. In particular, "the skate" designates an arrangement comprised from a "skate blade" or "blade" and a "skate boot" to which the skate blade is fixedly secured. The term "skate blade" designates the product which generally comprises a "skate runner" or simply a "runner"
1 5 combined with the toe plate and the heel plate. The two plates are compatible with the exterior of the sole of the skate boot and serve as securement flanges for holding the skate blade to the skate boot. The lowermost edge of the skate runner which slides over the ice surface when the skate is in use, is referred to as the "runner edge." It is usually defined by a longitudinal groove having a shallowly concave cross-section.
Skate guards of the type in which the edge of the runner of the blade is suspended above the floor and above any part of the guard or protector have been disclosed in numerous prior art references. Thus, U.S. patent 1,982,524 (Kutchera) discloses a combination of two adjustable parts which are arranged to match the size of a skate. The guard portions are arranged to support the toe plate and the heel plate of the blade and a strap wrapped around the instep is used to maintain the arrangement secured to the skate. The arrangement is complex in structure, cumbersome to use as it is inconvenient to attach or detach to the boot.
U.S. patent 2,137,637 (Jorgensen) presents another arrangement in which the skate guard is composed of a front and rear portion and attaches to the tubular members of the blade in which the runner is imbedded. Due to the rounded cross-section of the tubular member of the blade, the arrangement is ~.
This invention relates to the improvement of skate guards of the type readily and conveniently attachable to or removable from the skate blade.
More particularly, the invention relates to the type of skate guards where the edge of the runner of the blade is spaced above any portions of the guard so that the edge of the runner remains devoid of any contact with the guard to prevent even a slight dulling of the runner edge while walking around with the guard applied.
While no rigidly prescribed terminology exists in the art of skates, certain terms have been accepted by the industry and users and is also used throughout the present specification. In particular, "the skate" designates an arrangement comprised from a "skate blade" or "blade" and a "skate boot" to which the skate blade is fixedly secured. The term "skate blade" designates the product which generally comprises a "skate runner" or simply a "runner"
1 5 combined with the toe plate and the heel plate. The two plates are compatible with the exterior of the sole of the skate boot and serve as securement flanges for holding the skate blade to the skate boot. The lowermost edge of the skate runner which slides over the ice surface when the skate is in use, is referred to as the "runner edge." It is usually defined by a longitudinal groove having a shallowly concave cross-section.
Skate guards of the type in which the edge of the runner of the blade is suspended above the floor and above any part of the guard or protector have been disclosed in numerous prior art references. Thus, U.S. patent 1,982,524 (Kutchera) discloses a combination of two adjustable parts which are arranged to match the size of a skate. The guard portions are arranged to support the toe plate and the heel plate of the blade and a strap wrapped around the instep is used to maintain the arrangement secured to the skate. The arrangement is complex in structure, cumbersome to use as it is inconvenient to attach or detach to the boot.
U.S. patent 2,137,637 (Jorgensen) presents another arrangement in which the skate guard is composed of a front and rear portion and attaches to the tubular members of the blade in which the runner is imbedded. Due to the rounded cross-section of the tubular member of the blade, the arrangement is ~.
not safe in securement of the guard to the blade. In extreme conditions, it may happen that the clips holding the protector to the skate may be forced apart to drop the edge of the runner to the bottom of the protector. Besides, two independent protectors are required for each skate. The problem with the reliability of the hold of the protector on the skate is probably the reason why there is one additional embodiment in which the blade rests on an elastic padding forming a part of the protector. Such arrangement, of course, is disadvantageous in that the runner edge of the blade may become dulled by contact with the elastic material.
U.S. patent 2,154,735 (Driscoll et al.) presents another arrangement in which the blade is held between two resiliently arranged holding plates adapted to envelope the tubular holder of the blade of the skate. The arrangement is composed of two parts held together by a channel shaped flat piece. Side plates of the front and of the rear piece rest against the toe plate and heel plate of the respective blade. This is a complex arrangement which, furthermore, does not have a reliable hold with the blade particularly in the toe plate region of the guard.
U.S. patent 2,181,779 (Barnard) presents a skate guard which is placed over the runner of the blade. It is held in place, at the rear end, by a forwardly and downwardly inclined end wall while the front end is provided with a clamping element which is adapted to be pivoted into and out of engagement with the blade. The blade edge contacts the bottom of the channel of the guard only at the back and at the front of the blade. This arrangement still requires that at least a part of the runner edge be in contact with the bottom of the channel of the skate guard thus potentially damaging or at least dulling the runner. Besides, the clamping member at the front of the skate guard is shown as being threaded into a bore provided in the body of the skate guard itself and is most likely highly unreliable.
U.S. patent 4,382,615 (Gronborg et al) presents another embodiment similar to that of the Jorgenson patent mentioned above, where the securement of the guard is effected by inserting the runner of the blade into slots provided in mounting plates forming a part of the guard. One of the disadvantages of this arrangement, viewed from the standpoint of the present invention, is its complex structure which requires adjustment of the length of the skate guard by manipulating two portions telescoped one in the other.
Finally, U.S. patent 4,392,674 (Evon) shows a skate guard which became very popular among professional skaters and which has the bottom part of the channel of the guard serrated such that the contact of the edge of the runner of the skate is minimized but is not completely avoided.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a skate guard having relatively simple structure yet providing an arrangement in which the sides of the runner of a skate blade, particularly a figure skating blade, are placed between laterally stabilizing sidewalls of a portion of a channel and wherein the runner edge of the blade is free of any contact with any parts of the skate guard which could potentially dull a part of the edge thus exposing the user to possible problems, for in competitive figure skating.
In general terms, the present invention provides a skate guard readily attachable to or detachable from a blade to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor surface while protecting the runner edge of the blade of the skate, said skate guard comprising, in combination:
ia) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is devoid of a contact with the guard;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means resiliently displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction toward said guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions; and (d) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade.
It is preferred that the first support portion, preferably the front end of the guard, be integral with the guide bar and the second support portion, preferably at the heel end of the guard; be a part of a support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
The skate guard is provided with skate clamping means, in the embodiment described a tension spring mechanism operatively associated with the heel support block. The clamping means is adapted to develop a clamping force holding the guard in firm engagement with the underside of the toe and heel plates of the blade. It will be appreciated, of course, that other types of the clamping means such as a ratchet mechanism may be used which would provide generally the same clamping effect.
The invention will now be described by way of a prototype, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top side and front perspective view of the prototype;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the skate guard shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is Section III-III of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is Section IV-IV of Figure 2.
With particular reference to Figure 1, the reference number 10 denotes a skate guard of the type readily attachable to or detachable from a skate blade (see Figure 4) to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor while maintaining the runner edge of the blade of the skate protected.
The skate guard 10 is generally comprised of two sections movable relative to each other. The first section is referred to as a generally channel shaped longitudinal runner guide bar or protector 1 1. The second part of the guard is a support block 12. The guide bar 11 defines a centrally disposed longitudinal guide groove 13. The groove 13 extends the full length of the guide bar 11. The guide bar 11 and the block 12 are made from a rigid thermoplastic material, for instance from Nylon.
The underside of the bar 11 may be provided with a softer, rubbery material or with other anti-slip means to reduce the possibility of slipping on a wet tile floor or the like.
As best seen from Fig. 4 but also looking at Fig. 2, the groove 13 merges, at the toe end of the guard, with a narrower portion which is also referred to as a "first channel section" 27. The first channel section is typical in that its width, defined by a distance between side walls 16a, 17a, corresponding to the sides 16, 17, of the groove 13, is substantially smaller than that of the width of the groove 13. The width of the first channel section 27 is designed to correspond to the thickness of a skate blade with which the skate guard is to be used, to permit convenient inserting of the skate blade between the sides 16a, 17a while securing a reasonable resistance to a lateral tilt of the blade when the guard is applied. The side walls 16a, 17a thus form a first part of laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the blade to improve stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade.
It should be noted at this point that the support block 12 defines two opposed side walls 16b, 17b of what is referred to as a second channel section. The second channel section defined by walls 16b, 17b is typical in that (like the first section) its width, defined by a distance between side walls 16a, 17a, is aligned with the groove 13 but is substantially smaller than that of the groove. The width of the second channel section 33, like the first channel section 27, is designed to correspond to the thickness of a skate runner 14 with which the skate guard is to be used, to permit convenient inserting of the skate runner 14 between the sides 16b, 17b while securing a reasonable resistance of the blade to a lateral tilt relative to the guard when the latter is in use. Thus, the side walls 16b, 17b form a second part of laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the runner to improve stability of the runner relative to the guard.
Thus, the sides of the runner 14 at the toe end are held within the first channel section 27 and at the heel end in the second channel section 33. The channel sections 27, 33 are aligned with the guide groove 13 and thus with each other. They combine to form what is generally referred to as a channel portion 27, 33 which in effect provides an anti-tilting mechanism of the guard.
As best seen in Figure 4, the channel portion surrounds, with its sections 27, 33, at least a portion, in the embodiment shown the front and rear portion, of opposed sides of the runner 14 of the skate. A part of the runner edge 15 is disposed within the channel portion 27, 33 and between its sidewalls 16a, 17a; 16b, 17b.
_7_ The front or toe end of the integral guide bar 1 1 where the first channel section 27 is provided, defines on its top a generally planar, upwardly facing support portion 18 which is adapted to engage an underside portion 1 9 (Figure 4) of the toe plate 20 of the blade.
The support block 12 defines a somewhat similar, generally planar upwardly facing support portion 21 which is adapted to engage the underside portion 22 of the heel plate 23 of the blade. As is well known, the toe plate and the heel plate 23 are in effect mounting flanges serving the purpose of fixed securement of the blade to a skating boot B. Supporting columns 24, 25 of the blade project upwards from the runner 14 and are usually welded integral with the toe end heel plates 20, 23.
As can be appreciated upon review of Figure 4, when the support portion 18 and the support portion 21 are in engagement with the underside of the toe and heel plates 19, 22, the runner edge 15 of the blade is suspended above the guide bar or protector 1 1 and above the bottom part of the first channel section 27. The toe end of the runner edge 15 is also free of any contact with the guard at the support portion 18 near the toe end of the guard. Thus, the only parts of the runner 14 actually touching a portion of the skate guard are sections of the opposed side walls of the toe and heel portions of the runner.
They are in a slight contact with respective opposed, laterally stabilizing side walls 16a, 17a, 16b, 17b of the channel portion 27-33 to prevent lateral tilting of the guard relative to the skate during the walking with the guard on.
It can thus be appreciated that the skate guard shown in Figure 4 not only protects the runner 14 in the usual fashion but also secures that there is no contact whatsoever between the guard 10 and the underside or runner edge 15 of the blade.
The first channel section 27 (Figure 1 ) disposed centrally of the support portion 18 is in effect a continuation of the side walls 16, 17 of the groove 13.
The forwardmost part of the channel defined by the stabilizing walls 1 6a, 17a, defines a downwardly and rearwards directed first clamping surface 28 which, as best seen in Figure 4, is compatible with the upwardly and rearwards inclined edge 29 of the toe portion 30 of the blade. The uppermost _$_ part of the toe portion 30, of course, is welded to the toe plate 20 as is well known in the art.
The skate shown in Figure 4 being a figure skating skate, the lower edge 31 is provided with serrations which eventually merge with the smooth, sharpened runner edge 1 5.
The rear support portion 21 forms a part of the support block 12. The support block 12 defines the already mentioned second channel section 33 which partly envelopes the column 25 and the heel portion 34 of the blade. At the rear portion 34 of the runner 14, the second channel section 33 is traversed by a solid section 35 (Figure 4) disposed transversely of the second channel section 33 and providing a downwardly and forwards facing second clamping surface 36.
The second channel section 33 is also discontinued at the bottom of the block 12 to define a transverse base 37 to which is anchored the rear end of 1 5 a tension coil spring 38 disposed within the guide groove 13. The front end of the spring 38, on the other hand, is anchored to the blade protector 1 1 at 39 (Figure 4).
With reference to Figure 3, the blade protector or guide bar 1 1 of the embodiment shown defines an inverted T-shaped guide groove in which are slidably received flanges 40, 41 of the block 12. This provides for a sliding securement of the support block 12 to the guide bar 1 1 . With the tension spring 38 arranged as shown, it will thus be appreciated that as long as the spring 38 is under a tension, it resiliently urges the block 12 towards the clamping surface 28. The dimensioning and location of the spring 38 is such that, with the skate clamped between surfaces 28 and 36, there is still substantial tension present at the spring 38 so that there is a constant downward wedging force active at the runner 14 and thus on the entire blade.
With the runner edge 1 5 spaced above the bottom 26 of the channel 13, this wedging pressure results in a firm engagement between the undersides 19, 22 of the toe and heel plates 20, 23, respectively. Thus, the prototype shown in the drawings is a representation of one embodiment of what can generally be referred to as "clamping means" (surfaces 28 and 36) resiliently displaceable (by spring 38) relative to each other in the direction of elongation of the channel 13 relative to each other. They are, of course, adapted to wedgingly _g_ clamp the toe portion 30 and the heel portion 34 of the runner 14 so as to urge the runner 14 in the direction inwardly of the channel.
The spring and its anchoring portions are, of course, one embodiment of what can generally be referred to as "drive means operatively associated with the support block 12 to releasably urge same into a clamping position". The clamping position of the embodiment shown is achieved by urging the block 12 forwards to the toe end of the protector 1 1 . It will be appreciated that the releasable clamping force can be generated by other means, for instance by a ratchet mechanism acting on the support block 12.
When not attached to a blade, the block 12 is normally disposed somewhat forwards of the position shown in Figure 4. This position is provided by a total contraction of the spring 38. When it is desired to apply the skate guard, the user simply holds the skate guard, engages the heel portion of the blade with the block 12 by inserting the heel portion 34 into the second channel section 33 thus engaging (in the embodiment shown), the clamping surface 36 with the joinder between the column 25 and heel portion 34 of the runner 14. The heel end portion of the blade is now engaged with the block, the sides of the runner 14 being the only portions of the blade engaging the guard at the side walls 16b, 17b of the second channel section. On a subsequent pulling of the blade protector 1 1 forwards, the block 12 is displaced rearwards of the position shown in Figure 4 until the extreme tip of the toe portion 30 can be inserted into the channel section 27, between opposed stabilizing side walls 16a, 17a thereof. With the skate disposed within the stabilizing walls 16a, 17a of the first channel section, the force of the spring 38 brings the block again forwards into a firm clamping engagement. The forward force active at the block 12 results in a downwardly directed wedging component which urges the runner 14 towards the guide bar 1 1 , that is, downwards, while a lateral tilt of the guard during the walking on a regular floor is prevented by the engagement described, between the stabilizing sides of the runner 14 at the toe and heel ends with the side walls of the channel portion comprised of the sections 27, 33.
It can thus be seen that the application of the skate guard to a blade is much the same as in the popular skate guards in which two halves are urged to each other by a spring (see U.S. patent 4,392,674 referred to above). To i 2181564 -1 ~-remove the skate guard, a reverse operation is effected by pulling the blade guide bar or protector 11 forwards until the forward most tip of the toe portion 30 of the blade is free to move out of the first channel section 27 and above the support portion 18 and then simply moving the guide bar 1 1 rearwards to withdraw the heel portion 34 of the runner 14 out of the engagement between the stabilizing side walls 16b, 17b of the second channel section 33 in the support block 12.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the prototype disclosed presents only an embodiment which can be modified to a greater or lesser degree without departing from the gist of the present invention.
Accordingly, we wish to protect by Letters Patent which may issue on this application all such embodiments as fairly fall within the scope of our contribution to the art.
U.S. patent 2,154,735 (Driscoll et al.) presents another arrangement in which the blade is held between two resiliently arranged holding plates adapted to envelope the tubular holder of the blade of the skate. The arrangement is composed of two parts held together by a channel shaped flat piece. Side plates of the front and of the rear piece rest against the toe plate and heel plate of the respective blade. This is a complex arrangement which, furthermore, does not have a reliable hold with the blade particularly in the toe plate region of the guard.
U.S. patent 2,181,779 (Barnard) presents a skate guard which is placed over the runner of the blade. It is held in place, at the rear end, by a forwardly and downwardly inclined end wall while the front end is provided with a clamping element which is adapted to be pivoted into and out of engagement with the blade. The blade edge contacts the bottom of the channel of the guard only at the back and at the front of the blade. This arrangement still requires that at least a part of the runner edge be in contact with the bottom of the channel of the skate guard thus potentially damaging or at least dulling the runner. Besides, the clamping member at the front of the skate guard is shown as being threaded into a bore provided in the body of the skate guard itself and is most likely highly unreliable.
U.S. patent 4,382,615 (Gronborg et al) presents another embodiment similar to that of the Jorgenson patent mentioned above, where the securement of the guard is effected by inserting the runner of the blade into slots provided in mounting plates forming a part of the guard. One of the disadvantages of this arrangement, viewed from the standpoint of the present invention, is its complex structure which requires adjustment of the length of the skate guard by manipulating two portions telescoped one in the other.
Finally, U.S. patent 4,392,674 (Evon) shows a skate guard which became very popular among professional skaters and which has the bottom part of the channel of the guard serrated such that the contact of the edge of the runner of the skate is minimized but is not completely avoided.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a skate guard having relatively simple structure yet providing an arrangement in which the sides of the runner of a skate blade, particularly a figure skating blade, are placed between laterally stabilizing sidewalls of a portion of a channel and wherein the runner edge of the blade is free of any contact with any parts of the skate guard which could potentially dull a part of the edge thus exposing the user to possible problems, for in competitive figure skating.
In general terms, the present invention provides a skate guard readily attachable to or detachable from a blade to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor surface while protecting the runner edge of the blade of the skate, said skate guard comprising, in combination:
ia) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is devoid of a contact with the guard;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means resiliently displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction toward said guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions; and (d) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade.
It is preferred that the first support portion, preferably the front end of the guard, be integral with the guide bar and the second support portion, preferably at the heel end of the guard; be a part of a support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
The skate guard is provided with skate clamping means, in the embodiment described a tension spring mechanism operatively associated with the heel support block. The clamping means is adapted to develop a clamping force holding the guard in firm engagement with the underside of the toe and heel plates of the blade. It will be appreciated, of course, that other types of the clamping means such as a ratchet mechanism may be used which would provide generally the same clamping effect.
The invention will now be described by way of a prototype, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top side and front perspective view of the prototype;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the skate guard shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is Section III-III of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is Section IV-IV of Figure 2.
With particular reference to Figure 1, the reference number 10 denotes a skate guard of the type readily attachable to or detachable from a skate blade (see Figure 4) to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor while maintaining the runner edge of the blade of the skate protected.
The skate guard 10 is generally comprised of two sections movable relative to each other. The first section is referred to as a generally channel shaped longitudinal runner guide bar or protector 1 1. The second part of the guard is a support block 12. The guide bar 11 defines a centrally disposed longitudinal guide groove 13. The groove 13 extends the full length of the guide bar 11. The guide bar 11 and the block 12 are made from a rigid thermoplastic material, for instance from Nylon.
The underside of the bar 11 may be provided with a softer, rubbery material or with other anti-slip means to reduce the possibility of slipping on a wet tile floor or the like.
As best seen from Fig. 4 but also looking at Fig. 2, the groove 13 merges, at the toe end of the guard, with a narrower portion which is also referred to as a "first channel section" 27. The first channel section is typical in that its width, defined by a distance between side walls 16a, 17a, corresponding to the sides 16, 17, of the groove 13, is substantially smaller than that of the width of the groove 13. The width of the first channel section 27 is designed to correspond to the thickness of a skate blade with which the skate guard is to be used, to permit convenient inserting of the skate blade between the sides 16a, 17a while securing a reasonable resistance to a lateral tilt of the blade when the guard is applied. The side walls 16a, 17a thus form a first part of laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the blade to improve stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade.
It should be noted at this point that the support block 12 defines two opposed side walls 16b, 17b of what is referred to as a second channel section. The second channel section defined by walls 16b, 17b is typical in that (like the first section) its width, defined by a distance between side walls 16a, 17a, is aligned with the groove 13 but is substantially smaller than that of the groove. The width of the second channel section 33, like the first channel section 27, is designed to correspond to the thickness of a skate runner 14 with which the skate guard is to be used, to permit convenient inserting of the skate runner 14 between the sides 16b, 17b while securing a reasonable resistance of the blade to a lateral tilt relative to the guard when the latter is in use. Thus, the side walls 16b, 17b form a second part of laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage portions of opposed sides of the runner to improve stability of the runner relative to the guard.
Thus, the sides of the runner 14 at the toe end are held within the first channel section 27 and at the heel end in the second channel section 33. The channel sections 27, 33 are aligned with the guide groove 13 and thus with each other. They combine to form what is generally referred to as a channel portion 27, 33 which in effect provides an anti-tilting mechanism of the guard.
As best seen in Figure 4, the channel portion surrounds, with its sections 27, 33, at least a portion, in the embodiment shown the front and rear portion, of opposed sides of the runner 14 of the skate. A part of the runner edge 15 is disposed within the channel portion 27, 33 and between its sidewalls 16a, 17a; 16b, 17b.
_7_ The front or toe end of the integral guide bar 1 1 where the first channel section 27 is provided, defines on its top a generally planar, upwardly facing support portion 18 which is adapted to engage an underside portion 1 9 (Figure 4) of the toe plate 20 of the blade.
The support block 12 defines a somewhat similar, generally planar upwardly facing support portion 21 which is adapted to engage the underside portion 22 of the heel plate 23 of the blade. As is well known, the toe plate and the heel plate 23 are in effect mounting flanges serving the purpose of fixed securement of the blade to a skating boot B. Supporting columns 24, 25 of the blade project upwards from the runner 14 and are usually welded integral with the toe end heel plates 20, 23.
As can be appreciated upon review of Figure 4, when the support portion 18 and the support portion 21 are in engagement with the underside of the toe and heel plates 19, 22, the runner edge 15 of the blade is suspended above the guide bar or protector 1 1 and above the bottom part of the first channel section 27. The toe end of the runner edge 15 is also free of any contact with the guard at the support portion 18 near the toe end of the guard. Thus, the only parts of the runner 14 actually touching a portion of the skate guard are sections of the opposed side walls of the toe and heel portions of the runner.
They are in a slight contact with respective opposed, laterally stabilizing side walls 16a, 17a, 16b, 17b of the channel portion 27-33 to prevent lateral tilting of the guard relative to the skate during the walking with the guard on.
It can thus be appreciated that the skate guard shown in Figure 4 not only protects the runner 14 in the usual fashion but also secures that there is no contact whatsoever between the guard 10 and the underside or runner edge 15 of the blade.
The first channel section 27 (Figure 1 ) disposed centrally of the support portion 18 is in effect a continuation of the side walls 16, 17 of the groove 13.
The forwardmost part of the channel defined by the stabilizing walls 1 6a, 17a, defines a downwardly and rearwards directed first clamping surface 28 which, as best seen in Figure 4, is compatible with the upwardly and rearwards inclined edge 29 of the toe portion 30 of the blade. The uppermost _$_ part of the toe portion 30, of course, is welded to the toe plate 20 as is well known in the art.
The skate shown in Figure 4 being a figure skating skate, the lower edge 31 is provided with serrations which eventually merge with the smooth, sharpened runner edge 1 5.
The rear support portion 21 forms a part of the support block 12. The support block 12 defines the already mentioned second channel section 33 which partly envelopes the column 25 and the heel portion 34 of the blade. At the rear portion 34 of the runner 14, the second channel section 33 is traversed by a solid section 35 (Figure 4) disposed transversely of the second channel section 33 and providing a downwardly and forwards facing second clamping surface 36.
The second channel section 33 is also discontinued at the bottom of the block 12 to define a transverse base 37 to which is anchored the rear end of 1 5 a tension coil spring 38 disposed within the guide groove 13. The front end of the spring 38, on the other hand, is anchored to the blade protector 1 1 at 39 (Figure 4).
With reference to Figure 3, the blade protector or guide bar 1 1 of the embodiment shown defines an inverted T-shaped guide groove in which are slidably received flanges 40, 41 of the block 12. This provides for a sliding securement of the support block 12 to the guide bar 1 1 . With the tension spring 38 arranged as shown, it will thus be appreciated that as long as the spring 38 is under a tension, it resiliently urges the block 12 towards the clamping surface 28. The dimensioning and location of the spring 38 is such that, with the skate clamped between surfaces 28 and 36, there is still substantial tension present at the spring 38 so that there is a constant downward wedging force active at the runner 14 and thus on the entire blade.
With the runner edge 1 5 spaced above the bottom 26 of the channel 13, this wedging pressure results in a firm engagement between the undersides 19, 22 of the toe and heel plates 20, 23, respectively. Thus, the prototype shown in the drawings is a representation of one embodiment of what can generally be referred to as "clamping means" (surfaces 28 and 36) resiliently displaceable (by spring 38) relative to each other in the direction of elongation of the channel 13 relative to each other. They are, of course, adapted to wedgingly _g_ clamp the toe portion 30 and the heel portion 34 of the runner 14 so as to urge the runner 14 in the direction inwardly of the channel.
The spring and its anchoring portions are, of course, one embodiment of what can generally be referred to as "drive means operatively associated with the support block 12 to releasably urge same into a clamping position". The clamping position of the embodiment shown is achieved by urging the block 12 forwards to the toe end of the protector 1 1 . It will be appreciated that the releasable clamping force can be generated by other means, for instance by a ratchet mechanism acting on the support block 12.
When not attached to a blade, the block 12 is normally disposed somewhat forwards of the position shown in Figure 4. This position is provided by a total contraction of the spring 38. When it is desired to apply the skate guard, the user simply holds the skate guard, engages the heel portion of the blade with the block 12 by inserting the heel portion 34 into the second channel section 33 thus engaging (in the embodiment shown), the clamping surface 36 with the joinder between the column 25 and heel portion 34 of the runner 14. The heel end portion of the blade is now engaged with the block, the sides of the runner 14 being the only portions of the blade engaging the guard at the side walls 16b, 17b of the second channel section. On a subsequent pulling of the blade protector 1 1 forwards, the block 12 is displaced rearwards of the position shown in Figure 4 until the extreme tip of the toe portion 30 can be inserted into the channel section 27, between opposed stabilizing side walls 16a, 17a thereof. With the skate disposed within the stabilizing walls 16a, 17a of the first channel section, the force of the spring 38 brings the block again forwards into a firm clamping engagement. The forward force active at the block 12 results in a downwardly directed wedging component which urges the runner 14 towards the guide bar 1 1 , that is, downwards, while a lateral tilt of the guard during the walking on a regular floor is prevented by the engagement described, between the stabilizing sides of the runner 14 at the toe and heel ends with the side walls of the channel portion comprised of the sections 27, 33.
It can thus be seen that the application of the skate guard to a blade is much the same as in the popular skate guards in which two halves are urged to each other by a spring (see U.S. patent 4,392,674 referred to above). To i 2181564 -1 ~-remove the skate guard, a reverse operation is effected by pulling the blade guide bar or protector 11 forwards until the forward most tip of the toe portion 30 of the blade is free to move out of the first channel section 27 and above the support portion 18 and then simply moving the guide bar 1 1 rearwards to withdraw the heel portion 34 of the runner 14 out of the engagement between the stabilizing side walls 16b, 17b of the second channel section 33 in the support block 12.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the prototype disclosed presents only an embodiment which can be modified to a greater or lesser degree without departing from the gist of the present invention.
Accordingly, we wish to protect by Letters Patent which may issue on this application all such embodiments as fairly fall within the scope of our contribution to the art.
Claims (20)
1. A skate guard readily attachable to or detachable from a skate blade which includes a runner edge to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor surface while protecting the runner edge of the blade of the skate, said skate guard comprising, in combination:
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is devoid of a contact with the guard; and (c) a pair of skate clamping means displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction toward said guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions.
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is devoid of a contact with the guard; and (c) a pair of skate clamping means displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction toward said guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions.
2. The skate guard of claim 1 , further comprising laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade.
3. The skate guard of claim 2 wherein said first support portion is integral with the guide bar and said second support portion is a part of a support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
4. The skate guard of claim 3 further comprising elastic drive means operatively associated with said support block to releasably urge same to a clamping position.
5. The skate guard of claim 4 wherein the elastic drive means is arranged to urge the block toward the first support portion.
6. The skate guard of claim 2 wherein said clamping means includes (a) a generally oblique first clamping surface portion facing towards the guide bar and rearwards of the guard; and (b) a generally oblique second clamping surface portion facing downwardly towards the guide bar and forwards of said guard.
7. The skate guard of claim 6 wherein said first clamping surface portion is integral with the guide bar and said second clamping surface is integral with a support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
8. The skate guard of claim 7 further comprising drive means operatively associated with said support block to wedgingly urge same to a clamping position.
9. The skate guard of claim 8 wherein the drive means is arranged to urge the block toward the first clamping surface.
10. The skate guard of claim 7 wherein the first clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards facing toe end portion of the blade and the second clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards facing heel end portion of the blade.
11. A skate guard readily attachable to or detachable from a skate blade to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor surface while protecting a runner edge of the blade of the skate, said skate guard comprising, in combination:
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion integral with the guide bar and adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion integral with a support block slidable relative to the guide bar and adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the skate, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is generally devoid of a contact with the guard;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means resiliently displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction oriented toward the guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions;
(d) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade;
(e) drive means operatively associated with said support block to releasably urge same toward the first support portion to a clamping position; and (f) a channel portion adapted to engage a part of opposed sides of the blade of the skate to stabilize the guard against a lateral tilt relative to the skate blade.
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion integral with the guide bar and adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion integral with a support block slidable relative to the guide bar and adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the skate, said support portions being arranged to suspend the blade of the skate such that the runner edge of the blade is generally devoid of a contact with the guard;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means resiliently displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction oriented toward the guide bar thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions;
(d) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt relative to the blade;
(e) drive means operatively associated with said support block to releasably urge same toward the first support portion to a clamping position; and (f) a channel portion adapted to engage a part of opposed sides of the blade of the skate to stabilize the guard against a lateral tilt relative to the skate blade.
12. The skate guard of claim 11 wherein said first clamping surface portion is integral with the guide bar and said second clamping surface is integral with the support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
13. The skate guard of claim 11 wherein the first clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards facing toe end portion of the blade and the second clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards facing heel end portion of the blade.
14. The skate guard of claim 12 wherein the drive means is a tension coil spring disposed in said channel and spaced from said runner edge, a first end of the coil being anchored to the guide bar, a second end of the coil being anchored to said block.
15. A skate guard readily attachable to or detachable from a skate blade which includes a runner edge, to enable walking, with the skate on, over a regular floor surface while protecting the runner edge of the blade of the skate, said skate guard comprising, in combination:
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the skate with a runner of the blade disposed in a channel but with the runner edge spaced above a bottom section of the channel;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means releasably displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction oriented toward a guide bar channel, thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions;
(d) said clamping means including (i) a generally oblique first clamping surface portion facing towards said channel and rearwards of said guard, and (ii) a generally oblique second clamping surface portion facing towards said guide bar and forwards of said guard member;
and (e) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt of the guard relative to the blade.
(a) a longitudinal guide bar;
(b) a first support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a toe plate of the blade, and a second support portion adapted to engage an underside portion of a heel plate of the blade, said support portions being arranged to suspend the skate with a runner of the blade disposed in a channel but with the runner edge spaced above a bottom section of the channel;
(c) a pair of skate clamping means releasably displaceable relative to each other in the direction of elongation of said guide bar, said clamping means being adapted to clamp a toe portion of the blade and a heel portion thereof so as to urge the blade in the direction oriented toward a guide bar channel, thus increasing engagement force between said support portions and said underside portions;
(d) said clamping means including (i) a generally oblique first clamping surface portion facing towards said channel and rearwards of said guard, and (ii) a generally oblique second clamping surface portion facing towards said guide bar and forwards of said guard member;
and (e) laterally stabilizing side wall means adapted to engage sides of the blade to improve the stability of the guard against lateral tilt of the guard relative to the blade.
16. The skate guard of claim 15 wherein said first clamping surface portion is integral with the guide bar and said second clamping surface is integral with a support block slidable relative to the guide bar.
17. The skate guard of claim 15 further comprising drive means operatively associated with said support block to releasably urge same to a clamping position.
18. The skate guard of claim 17 wherein the drive means is arranged to urge the block toward the first clamping surface.
19. The skate guard of claim 17 wherein the first clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards and forwards facing toe end portion of the skate blade and the second clamping surface portion is compatible with a generally upwards and rearwards facing heel end portion of the skate blade.
20. The skate guard of claim 17 wherein the drive means is a tension coil spring, a first end of the coil being anchored to the guide bar, a second end of the coil being anchored to said block, whereby the spring resiliently urges the block toward the first support portion.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002181564A CA2181564C (en) | 1996-07-18 | 1996-07-18 | Skate guard |
| US08/892,725 US5941568A (en) | 1996-07-18 | 1997-07-15 | Skate guard |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002181564A CA2181564C (en) | 1996-07-18 | 1996-07-18 | Skate guard |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2181564A1 CA2181564A1 (en) | 1998-01-19 |
| CA2181564C true CA2181564C (en) | 2003-10-07 |
Family
ID=4158635
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002181564A Expired - Fee Related CA2181564C (en) | 1996-07-18 | 1996-07-18 | Skate guard |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5941568A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2181564C (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6142528A (en) * | 1998-11-03 | 2000-11-07 | Riley; Richard A | Adjustable ice skate storage and walking shoe |
| US6312017B1 (en) | 2000-04-05 | 2001-11-06 | Jarr Canada | Skate guard with sharpener |
| US20070075540A1 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2007-04-05 | Steinhauser Paul M Jr | Ice skate blade guard roller apparatus |
| US7866705B2 (en) * | 2007-03-21 | 2011-01-11 | Rollergard, L.L.C. | Ice skate blade guard |
| US8273182B2 (en) * | 2008-07-15 | 2012-09-25 | WLR Enterprises, LLC | Devices and methods for cleaning and drying ice skate blades |
| US8764065B2 (en) * | 2008-11-21 | 2014-07-01 | Skaboots International, Llc | Skate shoe apparatus and method of manufacture |
| US8414030B2 (en) * | 2009-10-02 | 2013-04-09 | Questa Design Ltd. | Skate guard and walking device |
| CA2746640A1 (en) * | 2010-07-13 | 2012-01-13 | Kapp Consulting Group Llc | Traction device to walk on ice while wearing ice skate scabbard |
| KR101173999B1 (en) * | 2012-04-05 | 2012-08-16 | 이창주 | Length adjustable skate blade guard |
| US9427654B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2016-08-30 | Larry Schoenike | Ice skate blade guard with safety feature |
| CA2846061A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-15 | Larry Schoenike | Ice skate blade guard with safety feature |
| US10195515B2 (en) | 2013-04-25 | 2019-02-05 | Rollergard Llc | Ice skate attachment |
| CA166419S (en) | 2016-01-20 | 2017-07-12 | Marc Evon Enterprises Inc | Skate guard |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1788433A (en) * | 1930-03-31 | 1931-01-13 | Johnson Alfred | Ice-skate scabbard |
| US1982524A (en) * | 1933-03-23 | 1934-11-27 | Kutchera Adolf | Overshoe for skates |
| US2137637A (en) * | 1938-02-14 | 1938-11-22 | James P Jorgensen | Attachment for skates |
| US2154735A (en) * | 1938-03-05 | 1939-04-18 | Edward J Driscoll | Bracing device |
| US2181779A (en) * | 1938-06-17 | 1939-11-28 | Thomas W Barnard | Skate guard |
| US3583720A (en) * | 1969-04-28 | 1971-06-08 | Fo Mac Enterprises Inc | Ice skate blade guard |
| US4021054A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1977-05-03 | Frank Csutor | Accessories and aids for use by ice skaters |
| US4252345A (en) * | 1979-03-21 | 1981-02-24 | Southeastern Bank And Trust Company | Skate guard and walker |
| CA1062301A (en) * | 1979-04-02 | 1979-09-11 | Marc A. Evon | Ice skate scabbard with sliding guide means |
| US4365878A (en) * | 1979-11-15 | 1982-12-28 | Canon, Inc. | Signal processing circuitry for a distance measuring system |
| US4382615A (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1983-05-10 | Groenborg Jan Lennart | Ice skate guard |
| US5765870A (en) * | 1995-06-06 | 1998-06-16 | Riley; Richard | Adjustable inline skate storage and walking shoe |
| US5580094A (en) * | 1995-07-10 | 1996-12-03 | Ruehlman; Dana L. | In-line skate walking guard |
-
1996
- 1996-07-18 CA CA002181564A patent/CA2181564C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-07-15 US US08/892,725 patent/US5941568A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5941568A (en) | 1999-08-24 |
| CA2181564A1 (en) | 1998-01-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20150720 |